Canopic Jar of Amenhotep
New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep II (about 1427–1400 BCE)
Medium
Ceramic and pigment
Dimensions
a (jar): 30.4 × 19 × 19 cm (12 × 7 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.); b (lid): 13.3 × 13.3 × 13.3 cm (5 1/4 × 5 1/4 × 5 1/4 in.)
Classification
canopic jar
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
120265
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
One of a set of four jars that belonged to Amenhotep, who oversaw architectural projects in the temple of Amun at Karnak (in present-day Luxor). Now empty, the jars once held Amenhotep’s liver, lungs, intestines, and stomach, which were removed during the mummification process. Each jar has a hand-sculpted stopper that may represent its owner or one of the four sons of Horus, a set of gods associated with these vital organs. An inscription in hieroglyphs on each container promises divine protect...
About the Artist
Ancient Egyptian
Ancient Egyptian artists, a collective of highly skilled artisans spanning over three millennia from the Predynastic period (c. 6000–3150 BC) to the Roman era (30 BC–4th century AD), produced some of humanity's most enduring masterpieces. These anonymous craftsmen, often organized in state-sponsored workshops, lived in dedicated communities like Deir el-Medina near Luxor during the New Kingdom (c....